Mouse study supports stem cell therapy for cerebral palsy

Mouse study supports stem cell therapy for cerebral palsy
The right common carotid artery of post-natal day 7 mice was permanently occluded (ischemia). After 2 hours of recovery with the dam, the pup was exposed to 8% O2 air (hypoxia). At post-natal day 21, NPCs were transplanted in the corpus callosum. Credit: Rumajogee et al., eNeuro (2018)

Neural stem cells can repair damaged parts of the brain and restore motor impairments in mice that display features of cerebral palsy, according to new research published in eNeuro. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using stem cells to address the underlying brain injuries responsible for this group of common movement disorders.

Michael Fehlings and colleagues induced a mild brain injury in young male and female mice that reproduces features of and injected neural precursor cells into the corpus callosum—the dense bundle of nerve fibers connecting the left and right sides of the brain, in which myelination is significantly impaired.

With this approach, the researchers demonstrated recovery of lesions in the corpus callosum as well as the hippocampus and the cortex and improved walking and limb use.

Although further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying this recovery, the study suggests that may build a "bio-bridge" that enable the brain's own oligodendrocyte cells to repair myelination lost as a result of the injury.

More information: Exogenous Neural Precursor Cell Transplantation Results in Structural and Functional Recovery in a Hypoxic-Ischemic Hemiplegic Mouse Model, eNeuro, DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0369-18.2018

Citation: Mouse study supports stem cell therapy for cerebral palsy (2018, October 22) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-10-mouse-stem-cell-therapy-cerebral.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Study of monotreme and marsupial brains suggests hemispheres communicated before development of corpus callosum

58 shares

Feedback to editors